REGISTRATION-BASED USER ZONE NOTIFICATION FOR WIRELESS HANDSETS

• US 20010041554A1
• Filed: 05/27/1999
• Published: 11/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Owest Communications International, Inc.
• Inventors: ROWELL, ADRIAN J.
• Application Number:
  US09/321,046
• Publication Number:
  US 20010041554A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8033 location-dependent, e.g. business or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/81 Dynamic pricing, e.g. change of tariff during call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0112 Dynamic pricing, e.g. change of tariff during call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7435 Location dependent, e.g. Bussiness or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/82 Advice-of-Charge [AOC], i.e. notify subscriber of charges/cumulative charge; meter at the substation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel

Abstract

In a wireless network provided with a plurality of cell sites having a coverage area and an associated billing zone, a method and system for providing a wireless mobile unit with an indication of which type of billing zone is associated with the cell site servicing the mobile unit includes registering a mobile unit located within the coverage area of a cell site with the cell site. After registration, the billing zone associated with the registered cell site is then determined. An indication is then provided to the mobile unit of the billing zone associated with the registered cell site. The mobile unit then displays a message to notify the user of the mobile unit of the billing zone associated with the cell site in which the mobile unit is registered.

Claims

1. In a wireless network provided with a plurality of cell sites each having a coverage area and an associated billing zone, a method for providing an indication to a mobile unit located within a coverage area of a cell site of the billing zone associated with the cell site, the method comprising:

registering a mobile unit located within the coverage area of a cell site with the cell site;

determining the billing zone associated with the cell site in which the mobile unit is registered; and

providing an indication to the mobile unit of the billing zone associated with the registered cell site.

2. The method of

claim 1

wherein determining the billing zone comprises:

storing the billing zone associated with each cell site in a database; and

selecting the billing zone associated with the registered cell site from the database.

3. The method of

claim 1

wherein providing an indication comprises:

generating a message on a display screen of the mobile unit indicative of the billing zone associated with the registered cell site.

4. The method of

claim 1

wherein:

registering a mobile unit located within the coverage area of a cell site with the cell site occurs when the mobile unit is powered on.

5. The method of

claim 1

wherein:

registering a mobile unit located within the coverage area of a cell site with the cell site occurs when the mobile unit enters the coverage area of the cell site.

6. The method of

claim 1

wherein:

the type of billing zones includes residential and business zones.

7. In a wireless network provided with a plurality of cell sites each having a coverage area and an associated billing zone, a mobile switching center, a signaling control point, and a message service center, a method for providing an indication to a mobile unit located within a coverage area of a cell site of the billing zone associated with the cell site, the method comprising:

registering a mobile unit located within the coverage area of a cell site with the cell site;

storing the billing zone associated with each cell site in a database of the signaling control point;

providing registration information indicative of the cell site in which the mobile unit is registered from the registered cell site to the mobile switching center;

providing the registration information from the mobile switching center to the signaling control point;

selecting the billing zone associated with the registered cell site from the database of the signaling control point;

providing billing zone information indicative of the billing zone associated with the registered cell site from the signaling control point to the message service center;

generating a message based on the billing zone information at the message service center;

providing the message to the mobile unit via the mobile switching center and the registered cell site; and

displaying the message at the mobile unit to notify a user of the mobile unit located within the coverage area of the registered cell site of the billing zone associated with the registered cell site.

8. The method of

claim 7

wherein:

registering a mobile unit located within the coverage area of a cell site with the cell site occurs when the mobile unit is powered on.

9. The method of

claim 7

wherein:

registering a mobile unit located within the coverage area of a cell site with the cell site occurs when the mobile unit enters the coverage area of the cell site.

10. A wireless network comprising:

a plurality of cell sites each having a coverage area and an associated billing zone, each cell site operable to register a mobile unit located within the coverage area of the cell site;

a mobile switching center for receiving registration information indicative of the cell site in which a mobile unit is registered from the registered cell site;

a signaling control point for storing the billing zone associated with each cell site, wherein the signaling control point receives the registration information from the mobile switching center and then selects the billing zone associated with the registered cell site;

a message service center for receiving billing zone information indicative of the billing zone associated with the registered cell site from the signaling control point and then generating a message based on the billing zone information, wherein the message service center provides the message to the mobile unit located within the coverage area of the registered cell site, wherein the mobile unit displays the message to notify a user of the mobile unit of the billing zone associated with the registered cell site.

11. The system of

claim 10

wherein:

the mobile unit registers with a cell site as soon as the mobile unit is powered on within the coverage area of the cell site.

12. The system of

claim 10

wherein:

the mobile unit registers with a cell site as soon as the mobile unit enters the coverage area of the cell site.